Strangers break sunroof of flaming wreck with hammer to save driver's life

Strangers who broke the window of a burning car wreck and dragged the driver to safety almost certainly saved his life.

Amateur video shows men desperately hammering on the window of a car that was on fire after its driver lost control on the Powhite Parkway in the US state of Virginia last Sunday night.

They were beating on the windows and sunroof, unable to reach the man, when one of them took out a hammer and smashed the sunroof. Then the desperate scramble to drag the man away from danger before the flames engulfed the vehicle began.

Aaron Parks, the rescuer who broke the sunroof, said it was all over in a matter of seconds.

"I was lucky enough to have a hammer," he told local TV station ABC 6. "But my friend and another passer-by were crucial in helping to get him out."

"The flames were intense. He didn't have more than 15 seconds to spare."

Passers-by initially didn't think there was anyone in the car until they heard the man's screams, another rescuer said.